How to Take a Screenshot in Mac OS X

If you need to snap a picture of a funny chat conversation, show an expert an error message on your system, create instructions for performing a task, or even contribute to a wikiHow article, a screenshot is the ideal way to show someone exactly what is on your computer screen. Taking a screenshot on Mac OS X is easy, and there are a variety of simple ways to capture just the image you need.



1. Press Command+Shift+4. Your cursor will turn into a small cross-hair reticle.

2. Click and drag your cursor to highlight the area you'd like to take a picture of. A grayed rectangle should appear where you drag your cursor. If you need to adjust your windows at all, press esc to return to a regular cursor without taking a picture.

3. Let go of the mouse. You should hear a brief camera shutter noise if your computer's sound is turned on. That signals that your screenshot has been taken.

4. Find your screenshot on your desktop. It will be saved as a .png file named "screenshot" labeled with the date and time. Earlier versions of OS X will save it as "Picture #"—for example, if it's the 5th screenshot on your desktop it will be labeled "Picture 5".


5. Use the screenshot. Once you have taken your screenshots, they are ready to be used as you need. You can attach them to an email, upload them to the Web, or even drag them straight into an application such as a word processor.